Endmoor and District, First Responders. Helping the Endmoor and District Community

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Endmoor and District - First Responders: What Do We Do?

What are Community First Responders?

Community First Responders are members of community-based teams, trained and supported by the Cumbria Ambulance Service to attend certain 999 calls and provide emergency life support until an ambulance arrives.

Why Are First Responders Needed?

In the event of a cardiac arrest, without early intervention and defibrillation the chances of long term survival decline by as much as 10% per minute. In a largely rural county, First Responders are exremely valuable as every minute counts.

What incidents are First Responders asked to attend?

First Responders are asked to attend medical emergencies in support of patients over the 12 years of age. These can include:

Chest pains believed to be of cardiac origin, and at risk of cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest

Patients who unconscious for unknown reason

Choking

Drowning (patient out of water)

Community First Responders will not be asked to attend trauma calls, i.e. road accidents or any known violent or other dangerous situations.

Do First Responders drive like the emergency services?

Community First Responders are asked to attend serious medical incidents within their community, but are not to break the speed limit and must drive safely and comply with all Road Traffic Act regulations. There are no exceptions and failure to follow the regulations may lead to prosecution. Under no circumstances will Community First Responders be authorised to use blue of green flashing lights.

If anything goes wrong are First Responders covered?

A Community First Responder trained and approved by Cumbria Ambulance Service and attending an emergency call is acting as an agent of the Ambulance Service and is therefore covered by the Ambulance Service liability policies. This does not apply whilst travelling to or from incidents and in the event of any motoring offences.